The invention is a specially constructed plant pot with pre-planted artificial or living plants, or seeds, which together can be placed into grass pavers. These pre-planted plant pots can easily be removed from and reinstalled into a relevant type of grass paver that is currently available for purchase, and a whole parking area, gateway or pathway can instantly be made green. The plant pots can have as many different designs as the types of grass pavers can be found on the market, in order to achieve perfect fitting into the empty cells. The plant pots are designed to minimize the drying effect of heat absorbed by the material of the grass paver and to avoid the damaging effect of the traffic load the grass is exposed to. Installation time can further be reduced by using multi-unit plant pot blocks.

the instant result of green surfaces, wherein the plant pot (1) is used together with the grass paver (3);

any shape and size design, wherein suitable plant pots (1) can fit into the empty cells (3) of an existing grass paver (2);

a preparation step, wherein artificial plants or substrate with living plants (4) are placed into the plant pot (1); and

when the suitable plant pot (1) is installed within the empty cells (3) of the grass paver (2), the original functions of the grass paver (2) are kept.

2. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an air gap created by the spacers (5) on the outer surface (6) of the plant pot (1), which minimize direct heat flow from the material of the grass paver (2) towards the substrate within the plant pot (1).

3. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a design for easy removal and reinstall of the plant pot ( 1) into the empty cells (3) of grass pavers (2).

4. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a design, in which the surface of the substrate within the plant pot (1) is below the surface of the upper face of the grass paver (2) when the plant pot (1) is within the grass paver (2).

5. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a double- walled design, where the outer walls create an outer pot (8), and the inner walls create an inner pot (9).

6. The plant pot (1) according to claims 5, further comprising a double- walled design, where the outer pot (8) and inner pot (9) can be separated from one another.

a multi-unit setup, also called multi-unit plant pot blocks (12), wherein at least two plant pots (1) are interconnected with positioning structures (11) in an arrangement that aligns with the cells of at least one relevant grass paver (2).

8. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising the insertion of the plant pots (1) into the empty cells (3) of the relevant grass paver (2), which is done either from below or above, depending on the design.

9. The plant pot (1) according to claims 5 or 7, further comprising the insertion of the double- walled plant pots (1) into the empty cells (3) of the relevant grass paver (2), wherein:

single- and multi-unit setups are inserted either from below or above, when the outer pots (8) and the inner pots (9) are not separable; and single- and multi-unit setups can be inserted from below and/or above, when the outer pot (8) and the inner pots (9) are separable, further comprising a multi-unit plant pot block (12) design:

where at least two plant pots (1) are interconnected through the outer pots (8);

where at least two plant pots (1) are interconnected through the inner pots (9); and where at least two plant pots (1) are interconnected through the outer pots (8) and the inner pots (9).

10. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising the placing of the plant pot (1) in between two or more neighboring relevant grass pavers (2), or one or two relevant grass pavers (2) and any other type of paving or edging material with the consequence that shape and size of the plant pot (1) can be different from those plant pots (1) placed into the empty cells (3) of the relevant grass paver (2)

11. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising the use of plant seeds during the preparation step, if the instant result of green surfaces is not required.

12. The plant pot (1) according to claim 1, further comprising any spike or blade shaped extensions at the bottom of the plant pot (1) that can be inserted into the ground.

a one piece at a time installation, wherein single-unit plant pots (1) are placed into the empty cells (3) of at least one relevant grass paver (2); and

a one block at a time installation, wherein multi-unit plant pot blocks (12) are placed into the empty cells (3) of at least one relevant grass paver (2).

14. The plant installation method according to claim 13, further comprising a vertical distance (7) measured downwards from the upper face of the grass paver (2) to the surface of the substrate within the plant pot (1) if the plant pot (1) is within the grass paver (2), which is equal or greater than 0 mm, which is defined by the parameters of the plant in use, and the type of usage the plant pot (1) and the grass paver (2) are exposed to.

15. The plant installation method according to claim 13, further comprising plant seeds, which will mature after installation.

16. The plant installation method according to claim 13, further comprising artificial or living plants before and during installation.

17. The plant installation method according to claim 13, further comprising sliced turf sod or artificial grass on the upper surface of the plant pot (1), with or without further substrate beneath.

Description:

Plant pot for grass pavers

Technical field

A landscaping plant pot prepared with artificial or living plants for placing into the cells of grass pavers to create or repair green surfaces in short time at public and private areas of pedestrian and vehicle traffics.

Background

Grass paved areas are designed for creating appropriately solid surfaces for pedestrian and vehicle traffic, by increasing the green areas too. Also, unlike large concrete or asphalt surfaces, grass pavements can absorb water eliminating the need for drainage systems. These are considered to be the original functions of grass pavers.

The designated surface must be prepared first, on which the concrete or plastic grass pavers can be laid. Substrate is spread on the grass pavers and is then leveled out filling the cells of the grass pavers. Grass is then seeded, which, as a result of appropriate watering, will create green environment in a few weeks’ time.

This conventional procedure with grass pavers consists many problems. First, the installed lawn can quickly bum out by high temperatures during the summer season. The water content from to substrate can either evaporate or being absorbed, both of which would lead to the drying of the plant. Also, both processes can be facilitated by the material of the grass paver, by absorbing heat from the sun and/or absorbing a certain amount of water.

Second, the pedestrian and the vehicle traffic can tread the freshly planted grass. If the substrate is in level or above, due to the prolific roots, with the upper surface of the grass paver, the passing tires can break or remove the plants with roots from the substrate. These two destructive effects can turn the green surfaces into barren, dirty looking areas in a relatively short time.

The final problem is the renovation of these damaged areas. It is be done by removing the grass pavers from the area of damage, cleansing the dried plants from the cells of the grass pavers, and redoing the installation again. These works are time consuming and hard, and the destmctive problems would not be solved; with time these renovations should be repeated.

Summary of Invention

The invention aims to overcome the problems listed above. The application of the plant pots of the current invention makes it possible to create green surfaces instantly by using them together with grass pavers. Artificial plants, or substrate with living plants can be pre-planted into the plant pots during manufacture, which in turn can easily be inserted into the empty cells of the grass pavers. These plant pots are designed to minimize the heat flow from the material of the grass paver towards the substrate within the plant pot, and to retain an appropriate amount of water, both are which to avoid the drying of the plants, whereas the water surplus can drain though it. The substrate level in the plant pot would be preset below the upper face of the grass paver, so that the proliferating roots would not expose the plants so much that the pedestrian and vehicle traffic could tread those. If a plant pot is still required to be changed for any reason, the plant pot can simply be removed from the cell of the grass paver and a new plant pot can be put into its place. This maintenance work is fast and easy; the original beauty of a larger area can be preserved with this technique.

All in all, the solutions to the problems, described above, must fulfill a few requirements. These requirements and how they are fulfilled are detailed in the following paragraphs.

The first requirement is the rapid installation of the artificial or living plants into, and the easy renewal of damaged and dried plants from the cells of the grass pavers, compared to the conventional methods. This requirement can be fulfilled if the plant pot, designed to fit into the cells of a designated grass paver, is pre-planted with artificial plants or substrate with living plants during the manufacturing process. This pre-planted plant pot is then suitable for being placed into the empty cells of the designated grass pavers at the site of construction. The pre- planted plant pots can be prepared with mass production, packed on pallets, delivered to construction sites, and used up immediately. The installation works are easier when multi-unit plant pot blocks are manufactured, and more plant pots are placed into the empty cells of the grass pavers simultaneously. In case the plant in a plant pot dries or gets damaged, renewal can be carried out by removing the original plant pot from the cell of the grass paver and a new plant pot of the same type can be put into its place.

The second requirement is to avoid the grass to be trodden by pedestrians or vehicles. This requirement can be fulfilled if the surface of the substrate within the plant pot is below the upper face of the grass paver, which leaves enough space for the plants and its roots to proliferate even if tires are passing by above it. The substrate level within the appropriate plant pot can be set during production in order to create the desired space for the growth when installed into the relevant grass grid.

The third requirement is to minimize the water content of the substrate being absorbed by the grass paver if it is made of concrete, a material, which can absorb a relatively large amount of water. This requirement can be fulfilled if the substrate is separated from the concrete with a watertight surface.

The fourth requirement is to minimize the heat flow from the material of the grass paver towards the substrate within the plant pot, which results in water evaporation and hence, drying of the plants. This requirement can be fulfilled if the substrate within the plant pot is separated from the grass paver by air gap, which design minimize heat flow. Also, the bottom of the plant pot can serve as a reservoir, retaining some water, which can be used up by the plants in a longer time period.

The present invention is similar to any conventional plant pot currently in use at the horticulture industries. To date, there has been no intention or direction observed, which would indicate that plant pots would be designed to achieve fitting into the cells of grass pavers.

The patent US6223466B1 describes a plant pot that has two separable and interchangeable containers. The outer container can permanently be placed into the ground, whereas the inner container can be relocated and changed as wished. Plants are planted in the inner container either before or after the inner container is placed into the outer container. This system allows easy rearrangements of plants in private gardens or public places.

The double walled design for plant pots were described in the patents US5044120A and

US5852896A, where a fertilizer mixture for nutrition supply, or substrate for water supply were used, respectively. Neither of these pots are designed to fit grid pavers.

A plant pot positioning technique was invented and published with the identifier number US5052148A. A central rod is used to position consecutive pots under one another. A vertical planting scaffold was published under the patent US20110258925A1, where pre-manufactured pots can be placed into the pockets of a designated scaffold. Neither of these patents are dedicated to being used with grass pavers.

Plant pot blocks, designed to transport multiple plants in a grid-like manner, are widely used in larger gardening companies or local flower shops. The patent US3755964A describes one such block, where each seedling or plant has an own chamber to grow in. The size and shape of this block does not align with the cells of any grass paver.

A plant tube is used in the patent US5172517A that functions as an effective planting aid. The tube contains either a seedling or a larger plant, and planting happens if the tube is placed into the substrate. The bottom part of the tube is designed, so that the proliferating roots can enter and spread into the surrounding substrate.

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 The plant pot with a shape and size that fits into the empty cells of a relevant grass paver. FIG. 2 The built-up of the plant pot.

FIG. 3 The double-walled plant pot made up of an inner and an outer pot.

FIG. 4 The multi-unit plant pot block is inserted into the empty cells of a relevant grass paver.

Detailed description of the invention Figure 1 shows an example for a plant pot 1 designed for fitting into the empty cells 3 of a relevant grass paver 2 that can currently be purchased from appropriate vendors. The plant pot 1 on the left is before, whereas the plant pot 1 on the right is after insertion into the relevant grass paver 3. When the suitable plant pot 1 is installed within the empty cells 3 of the grass paver 2, the original functions of the grass paver 2 are kept. The plant pot 1 is to be used together with the grass paver 2 in order to instantly create green surfaces.

Figure 2 shows a possible design for the plant pot 1. Any shaped and sized design can be used for the plant pot 1, which fits into an empty cell 3 of an existing grass paver 2. In the preparation step artificial plants or substrate with living plants 4 are placed into the plant pot 1, when instant results of green surfaces are required after installation. Plant seeds can be used as well, if green surfaces are not required instantly after installation.

In cases when grass pavers 2 are used at areas of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, it is important to keep the root system and the shoot system of the pre-planted plant within the plant pot 1 intact or viable, respectively. For this reason, the substrate in the plant pot 1 is prepared such that if the plant pot 1 is within the grass paver, the surface of the substrate within the plant pot 1 is below the level of the upper face of the grass paver 2 with a vertical distance 7 that provides enough space for the plant and the roots to proliferate. In certain cases, for instance, when grass pavers 2 are used in slopes, this vertical distance 7 can be as small as 0 mm.

In this design, the spacers 5 on the outer surface 6 of the plant pot 1 are necessary for minimizing the heat flow from the material of the grass paver 2 towards the substrate within the plant pot 1. This design lowers the evaporation rate. The spacer 5 on the outer surface 6 of the plant pot 1 can be omitted when there is no real danger of drying out by the heat absorbed by the material of the grass paver 2.

Figure 3 shows an example of a practical design. The plant pot 1 is built-up of an outer pot 8 and an inner pot 9. The walls of the outer pot 8 and the inner pot 9 are separated by the collar shaped spacer 5 of the inner pot 9, with which the inner pot 9 fits perfectly into the outer pot 8. The inner pot 9 can be removed, and a new inner pot 9 can be put into its place by holding it at the finger grooves 10. The double-walled plant pot 1 can be placed into an empty cell 3 of the relevant grass paver 2. If replacement is necessary, it is enough to change the inner pot 9 only, without the outer pot 8.

This design is also suitable for setting the appropriate level of substrate. If the edge of the inner pot 9 is below the edge of the outer pot 8, then the substrate can be preset to the level of the edge of the inner pot 9, resulting in the desired vertical distance 7 described above. Different designs of a double-walled plant pots 1 can be beneficial too. For instance, unlike described above, the double-walled plant pots 1 can be made of a single piece that is inseparable. Distinct shapes and appearances are allowed other than the double-walled design. Such designs are under the scope of the present invention if those are intended to be used together with grass pavers 2. To date, double- walled plant pot 1 patents have been granted, although those show no intention to be used together with grass pavers 2, but to improve the conditions the plants live in. Figure 4 shows a practical design, where multiple plant pots 1 are interconnected with positioning structures 11 creating multi-unit plant pot blocks 12. A multi-unit plant pot block 12 allows the simultaneous insertion of multiple plant pots 1 into the empty cells 3 of the relevant grass pavers 2, which reduces the time needed for the whole installation. In the example presented in Figure 4, the plant pots 1 are interconnected by positioning rods in an arrangement that aligns with the cells of an existing grass paver 2. Multi-unit plant pot blocks 12 can be designed with any other positioning structures for any other types of grass pavers 2.

The expression“plant pot” is applied throughout the present document, by which a plant pot prepared with artificial or living plants is meant. It is understandable that the mere, empty plant pot is not under the scope of the present invention, only with the preparation step and its use together with grass pavers, therefore, unless implied otherwise, the expression“plant pot” always means the pre-planted plant pot that instantly creates green surfaces, with the artificial or living plants pre-planted in it, if it is inserted into and, therefore, used together with grass pavers.

In the present description of the invention, the expression“grass paver” is exclusively used as a synonym for“grass grid”,“turf grid”,“grid paver”,“lawn grid” meaning grid paver blocks those are used for creating grass paved surfaces.

The spaces created by the grid-like structures of the grass pavers are called“cells” within this description of the invention. It is frequently emphasized that the cells of the grass pavers are empty, meaning that after laying the grass paver blocks onto the prepared ground insertion of the plant pots are already possible, no further works with substrate or anything are necessary. Also, a plant pot can only be inserted within the cell, if the cell of a grass paver is empty.

It should be noted that even if a certain version or versions of embodiments are detailed here, any person qualified in the art can apply various changes without leaving the scope of the presented invention. It is, naturally, not possible to highlight every design imaginable, so that the invention should not be limited to the drawings and description, meaning that every pot, preplanted the way described above, that should be used together with grass pavers in order to create green surfaces are under the scope of the present invention. The plant pot can be made of any types of material, e.g., concrete, different types of plastic, metal, or eco-friendly paper that is sufficient to be used together with grass pavers creating green surfaces with pre-planted artificial or living plants.

Methods, techniques, procedures described in detail here might also be subjects for changes by any person qualified in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is understood that such changes are within the current invention.

It is, at the same time, understandable that modifications used for conventional plant pots in horticulture, aiming to improve the conditions the plants are living in and can be used independently from the grass paver are not subjects of the present invention. Changes, such as the perforated bottom, or the use of an external plate for retaining water, are not intended to be within the scope of the described embodiments and methods.

Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be limited to the individual and combined use of the following claims.